Tulsa Drone…

When I first wrote about Richmond, VA’s Tulsa Drone here, I made the statement that the band’s music sounded like it was meant to be played in an art gallery. Their new album, Songs From A Mean Season, certainly does nothing to change my thoughts about the band. This is Tulsa Drone’s second full-length and it has a similar overall dynamic to their first album, No Wake. As much as I loved No Wake, that can only be a good thing.

Tulsa Drone has a unique, refreshing approach to instrumental music. Where much of instrumental music seems completely contrived, Tulsa Drone avoid all those usual pitfalls. What makes the band so different is their approach to the songs. Where most instrumental bands are guitar-based, Tulsa Drone base their songs around the bass dulcimer. That unique instrument gives the band a memorable sound. These songs truly feel like works of art. The band is so adept at creating a certain mood within their songs that soundtrack producers should be lining up outside their door by now. There is a wealth of instrumentation on Songs From A Mean Season that carry the album along its cinematic journey. In addition to the band’s main instruments, there are new additions introduced as well. Horns, organ, theremin and cornet all make tasteful appearances on the album. But perhaps the most surprising aspect to Songs From A Mean Season is that a few songs do have vocals. On “The Plague” and “Mean Season” guitarist Erik Grotz lets his deep voice in and it works quite well within the framework of these somber songs.

I hate to say that Songs From A Mean Season is a mood piece because that would seem to sell it far too short. The band is certainly mining a cold, dark place though. Whatever the case Tulsa Drone have created a beautiful follow-up to their outstanding debut album. It is such a wonderful change of pace to hear instrumental music that is not plagued by any genre norms or constrictions. Tulsa Drone have dug out quite a nice little niche for themselves.

wonderful stuff… thanks for expanding our knowledge. personally i connect them with Fields of the Nephelim (break of tempo, guitar bursts), Dead can Dance (later pieces) and Mecano (incredible Dutch band, started in the 80s http://www.mecano.ws)…